Environment groups want all permits withdrawn

The planning authority board wasted its time and energy when it only revoked one permit for the reconstruction of a Bahrija farmhouse by former Nationalist Party president Victor Scerri, according to three environment groups.

While welcoming the decision to revoke the permit for an extension to the building, the Ramblers' Association, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar and Nature Trust insisted all the permits should have been withdrawn.

The Bahrija development is covered by four different permits. The outline development permit was issued in 2002 while the full development permit was issued in 2003 and amended in 2005. The last permit, which is the one the Malta Environment and Planning Authority revoked, was granted in 2007 for an extension to the approved building.

The board's decision to revoke the last permit does not cancel out the previous permits. What it means is the application will now have to pass through the previously ignored environmental screening process, an omission which rendered the permit illegal.

Dr Scerri said on Thursday he intended to press ahead with the application for the extension and allow the process to take its due course, because he felt he had done nothing wrong. The Mepa board invoked Article 39 (A) of the Development Planning Act, which gives it the right to withdraw a permit if the law was breached during the planning process.

However, the three non-governmental organisations said the Mepa auditor had "amply certified" irregularities were present when the first two permits were granted.

The auditor had said applications were issued contrary to approved policy, apart from the fact that the architect had indicated the land as being flat, when it was sloping.

"The same board sitting should have applied Article 39 (A) to the two previous applications as well on the grounds of false declarations," the NGOs said.

They also requested that the site, where excavation works have already started, to be restored to its former state and Mepa to pay for the expenses given it was the authority which gave the green light for the development to go ahead.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party was also critical of the board's decision since it allowed Dr Scerri to go ahead with some sort of development in a highly sensistive zone.

The party criticised the "lack of dignity" shown by various Development Control Commission board members appointed by successive Nationalist governments when they approved one controversial permit after another in sensitive areas.

"The situation uncovers (Prime Minister) Lawrence Gonzi's hypocrisy when up to a few days ago he was clamouring for zero tolerance on development in ODZ (outside development zone) areas," the PL said.

It insisted Dr Gonzi should state who would be shouldering political responsibility for the granting of the Bahrija permit.